I’m Maryfran a downto earth open and honest writer who has had incredible success with weight loss (150 pounds) and also a regain. I’m currently working to lose my weight. I write a little about everything that pertains to weight loss: recipes, emotions, victories, exercise, failures and success. My blog title beliefinmyself is twofold. It is belief that I can lose and maintain the weight, but it also pertains to life. If I believe in myself I can achieve my every dream and hope!

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Monday, December 03, 2018

Addiction addled mind: rationalizing my food choices

Happy Monday! Luckily for me I am off work today, so my weekend is not ending! In a way I almost wish it were! Why? My eating has been out of control and it is typically easier for me to regain control with the routine of work in place. Regardless, I found myself awake at 3AM. Not exactly sick, but unable to sleep. Other than that we had a fabulous weekend. Relaxing, eye opening in terms of my food addiction and even a bit of exercise amidst the rain and fog.

First let’s recap the weekend. I was off Friday. (Jason has had to work both Friday and today...but I still have some use it or lose it time...I’m not losing!!). On Friday I spent my day running and doing all kinds of errands AND all of those chores that you keep saying ‘I really need to do it....next weekend for sure...’. (ie a new shower curtain liner, bra shopping, etc) I was on the go from the time I woke up until about 20-30 minutes before Jason got home. Felt good to knock so much off my to do list!!! On Saturday it was rainy...so we ran a few errands. I knocked another big to do off my list. When I reached my lowest weight I got rid of all of my big clothes....including winter coats. As I regained I simply wore layers of sweatshirts to make do in cold weather. Not the optimal option but I didn’t want to spend the money if I was going to lose...it was kinda the same mindset with the bras and the bra shopping I didn’t want to buy until I was a lower size. (The bras had become a necessity though you know it’s bad when one comes out of the washer in two pieces!). So when we walked through the mall and I saw that most places had their winter coats on sale for 50% off I started to look. (It helped that this was my three paycheck month versus the normal two...so no rent/bill money was deducted!!). I fear this winter...we are due for a bad one..and with how wet it has already been, I think we are going to get walloped! So I purchased a coat that fits me! It fits me perfectly ...no room for weight gain!! And the best part? It was 50% off...and I signed up for the store credit card (which I will never use again) and got another 50% off on top of that! I got my winter coat for $40! I hate winter...but after so many years without a coat, I want a cold day!! On Sunday it was wet and foggy. We visited Jason’s parents and hit up the canal for a bike ride. (Notice the multiple layers on me...it wasn’t supposed to be cold...and Besides, I didn’t want to get my new jacket muddy!!!)

Today will be spent with my mom!!! I told her she can take me out for lunch to celebrate my upcoming birthday! Hahaha. We will be shopping and who knows what else today!!

This weekend I picked up a book I had read a while back. It is called ‘Do life’ by Ben Davis. (Amazon Affiliate link). I haven’t gotten too far into it during this reread....but it has already really struck a chord. He talked about his addiction with food (and with gambling). He discusses how our minds (the addicted and messed up mind) can convince us to do the exact opposite of what we had planned or what we want to do. As I read,I could see it in my behavior of the weekend. I made a vow/challenge for December....I am going to try to drop 10 pounds! So why in the world did I on Friday...November 30’th make my all time favorite cookie...a cookie that I refer to as my personal crack? I convinced myself that I would make them...eat them on Friday and by December be done! (Seriously...I KNOW that this cookie recipe makes about 6 dozen!). But, make them I did! Surprisingly enough on Friday I kept it under control...mostly. Saturday not so much. I had vowed a ‘two a night’ limit! Somehow my addicted mind decided that two a night had nothing to do with eating 8 at lunch! (Excuse me...for lunch...I only ate cookies for lunch!). So then when night time came along I still had my nighttime two to eat...but then my addicted mind proclaimed the day already a failure...so I figured that I may as well eat 4 or 8 more!!! And I did. What’s worse? I started to repeat the cycle on Sunday! The whole time I was doing this I wasliterally nodding my head and saying ‘this is exactly how he said an addict thinks’. But it didn’t stop me!!! I am proud to say that on Sunday night I packaged what was left into packages of four (I don’t make them huge maybe 1.5 inch in diameter...oh heck...there is the addict brain speaking and rationalizing again) and popped them in the freezer. Yes they are still in the house but they are not as readily accessible! Thawing then out will make me take the time to really decide if I want them,versus sneaking one cookie when I go into the kitchen (and that one cookie turning into 4 or 10).

As I laid here this morning unable to sleep this morning, I started to think about the nights I can’t sleep. Without fail they are followed by either a night or a period of time on which my eating was not exactly healthy. (Hmm And water consumption has been non existent this weekend also....). Coincidence? I think not!!!!

So I’m kinda back on track. It will still be a rough month food wise...lunch out with mom today...birthday celebrations....Christmas...eiiyiiyii! But I am hot on the trail! I can do it!!!

10 comments:

As a retired substance abuse counselor, I know addiction well, and I know thee are certain foods I cannot have JUST ONE. I know I should stay away from things such as Ho Ho's and ice cream, but the pull to partake in these forbidden foods is too strong sometimes. Sounds like a great book. Going to look it up on Amazon.

As my husband often says, "You need to get your mind right." Today is a great day to stay on track! Make good choices when you're out with your mom. Make it about spending time with her and not about what you're eating.

Freezing the cookies was very smart! I have often thought that my thought processes and rationalization when it comes to eating and overeating are downright dysfunctional, and I definitely have foods that trigger out-of-control eating too.

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I am pretty laid back. I enjoy reading, writing and working on my dollhouses. I love to talk to people (so shoot me a message!!). I’m in a serious committed relationship and I look forward to many more years with him! For that reason (and some others) I want to be the healthiest me possible!

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